One Upset Boat Owner

[roscoe]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Had a gentleman come into my shop last week to get an estimate on replacing the engine in his 2006 boat. I gave him a general estimate but then asked what happened to his. He said he got some water in the boat and just thought the starter had locked up but the marina where he kept the boat said it was the engine. So they pulled the engine out and stripped it down to shortblock.
Well he drug boat and all the engine parts in to my shop today and when I looked at the engine, I asked was he sure the engine was locked? All the cylinder walls looked clean and shiny. So I took a splined shaft, stuck it in the couplier, used a big screwdriver and spun the engine over by hand. Wasn't nothing wrong with that engine. So I threw the starter on the bench and sure enough, rusted solid. So what would have been a simple fix for this guy has gotten expensive. I now get to clean everything up and reassemble all while figuring what parts didn't make it in the box. I hate reassembling something someone else disassembled. The owner left heading back toward the marina and wouldn't doubt he goes postal.

And you didn't follow with a camera?


Good luck putting the puzzle together.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Another sad to hear story.

 

[tazrig]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Well, at least take the PBR cans off the bumper when you go to a guys boat :facepalm:

Don, I'm sure those are just used for medicinal purposes only. Mr. Cooter seems like a reputable marine mechanic. Seriously though, a good professional marine mechanic is worth his weight in silver. A good and honest professional marine mechanic is worth his weight in gold. A good and honest professional marine mechanic who has a beard, wears a purple robe with stars on it and shares his knowledge on forums for free is priceless.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Don, I'm sure those are just used for medicinal purposes only. Mr. Cooter seems like a reputable marine mechanic. Seriously though, a good professional marine mechanic is worth his weight in silver. A good and honest professional marine mechanic is worth his weight in gold. A good and honest professional marine mechanic who has a beard, wears a purple robe with stars on it and shares his knowledge on forums for free is priceless.

....for everything else, there's MasterCard.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

I am seeing incompetence in a lot of places of business these days. Almost like many are smoking weed on the job or are just too hung over to do their jobs or too lazy or are just plain stupid or they are trying to cheat you. Very disturbing LOL

 

[coolbri70]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

just got in a 2010 camaro the top end of the motor, in the trunk gm tech line wanted to know who took it apart, told them the ticket says, a guy named Lucky took it apart. they said he will be LUCKY if the warranty covers:faint2:

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

I am seeing incompetence in a lot of places of business these days. Almost like many are smoking weed on the job or are just too hung over to do their jobs or too lazy or are just plain stupid or they are trying to cheat you. Very disturbing LOL

A lot of the older more experienced people have retired and while their is a lot of very competent people around their getting fewer and fewer. Honesty is a thing of the past.

 

[lncoop]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

....for everything else, there's MasterCard.

Ha! I love it!:laugh: Cove, if you're gonna invoke the name of the store what Sam built please say it correctly; Wal-Mark's.:facepalm:

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Most new techs have no idea how to anything outside of what they have been trained to do.

Don't blanket all of us. Some new techs have no idea, period. I have seen several people come out of technical college after spending 10's of thousands of dollars on their education, only to have NO CLUE on the basics of reading a wiring schematic. On the other hand I've seen some people come out of these colleges, or from trade schools that have a good grasp on fundamentals, and are willing to learn everything they can.
I think what separates these people is the ones who have had an interest in technical things from an early age, VS the ones that thought to them selves "Think I'll go to college and be a mechanic" with out having any REAL interest in doing it.

Like any industry, we have our greenhorns. Our dopes who will never learn. Our meat heads who try to fix everything with a hammer. Our dinosaurs who are stuck in the past. Our evolving dinosaurs that can teach you about the past, but are willing to keep up with current tech. Our dealership lifer, who's got blinders on, and will only work on one product. Our average guy who's decent at most things.And of course our rock stars who are few and far between.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

I guess I'm one of those oddities. Been in my current location for 31 years and have worked on just about everything in the past 40 years. Still keeping up with the new stuff. Actually enjoy the new technology. Moving slower but working smarter. Still teaching the younger whippersnappers a thing or two when they actually show up for work. Was actually thinking about the ole timers I learned from years ago and where did everyone go? Some younger than me are already dead and gone.
One thing I found, students coming out of those schools don't know squat.

 

[tazrig]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Don't blanket all of us. Some new techs have no idea, period. I have seen several people come out of technical college after spending 10's of thousands of dollars on their education, only to have NO CLUE on the basics of reading a wiring schematic. On the other hand I've seen some people come out of these colleges, or from trade schools that have a good grasp on fundamentals, and are willing to learn everything they can.
I think what separates these people is the ones who have had an interest in technical things from an early age, VS the ones that thought to them selves "Think I'll go to college and be a mechanic" with out having any REAL interest in doing it.

Like any industry, we have our greenhorns. Our dopes who will never learn. Our meat heads who try to fix everything with a hammer. Our dinosaurs who are stuck in the past. Our evolving dinosaurs that can teach you about the past, but are willing to keep up with current tech. Our dealership lifer, who's got blinders on, and will only work on one product. Our average guy who's decent at most things.And of course our rock stars who are few and far between.

Well put.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Our meat heads who try to fix everything with a hammer.
If ya cant fix it with a hammer, ya got yourself an electrical problem!

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Was actually thinking about the ole timers I learned from years ago and where did everyone go? Some younger than me are already dead and gone.

In our industry, unfortunately most of the old timers succumbed to the big C. Asbestos exposure from brakes, clutches, and gaskets. Chemical exposure from solvents. Some of them even washing parts in Gasoline with bare hands. Chain smoking, and stress from running a business.
I don't know about a Marine Tech, but I can only assume the conditions are similar.

One thing I found, students coming out of those schools don't know squat.

Sad to say, but the majority of them coming out of places like UTI, and WYOTECH are clueless. I don't think it's entirely their fault IMHO. These schools heard 30 or 40 people in a class with one instructor, and they get no where near the amount of guidance or one-on-one time needed to actually learn anything.

Then they are hired because of their credentials, and sent out on the floor working flat-rate. That's usually where the culture shock sets in. Some of them snap out of it, and learn the ropes from someone willing to help them out. Others remain clueless because "this isn't what it was like in the lab".

The kids out of the technical high schools are hit or miss. I was one of them. My experience there is you learned what you need to know to get a good start if you PAY ATTENTION. Some of my class mates are very successful wrenches. They were the ones who were engaged in both shop and class related learning. The ones who though it was a big joke now drive a truck delivering parts, or have absolutely nothing to do with the trade.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

So what would have been a simple fix for this guy has gotten expensive.

It was probably that boob mechanic from that other boating forum that did it. :facepalm:

He was looking for quench style pistons and kettering contact points. :lol:

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Again .. good mechs are Good at what they do. Some of them can just look under the hood of your boat and tell you what you need ( painted over Caps and such etc. ).

Dont judge a good tech from a bad tech.

Some good guys out there that are half the price not only in the Mech field but the Glass field ..

Peace out..

YD.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

This is why I fix my own stuff.

LIKE! I think people don't realize that an engine BLOCK is actually quite solid... Always look for the loose or missing screw first :facepalm:

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

I'm beginning to think something is up. The boat owner came by today to drop off the outdrive and we looked over his engine again. I've got it mostly together already. He told me the name of the mechanic that did the work and he has been turning wrenches on boats for better than twenty years. He would have known better. So I'm now wondering if something else is going on like someone needing an a good 5.0 MPI.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Did the OP say how much they charged him to take his engine apart? If they got paid to take it apart I think they were suppose to put it back as it was before if they made a bad diagnosis...Surely they didnt just take it apart and then leave him holding the bag.

 

[bassman284]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

Don't blanket all of us. Some new techs have no idea, period. I have seen several people come out of technical college after spending 10's of thousands of dollars on their education, only to have NO CLUE on the basics of reading a wiring schematic. On the other hand I've seen some people come out of these colleges, or from trade schools that have a good grasp on fundamentals, and are willing to learn everything they can.
I think what separates these people is the ones who have had an interest in technical things from an early age, VS the ones that thought to them selves "Think I'll go to college and be a mechanic" with out having any REAL interest in doing it.

Like any industry, we have our greenhorns. Our dopes who will never learn. Our meat heads who try to fix everything with a hammer. Our dinosaurs who are stuck in the past. Our evolving dinosaurs that can teach you about the past, but are willing to keep up with current tech. Our dealership lifer, who's got blinders on, and will only work on one product. Our average guy who's decent at most things.And of course our rock stars who are few and far between.

I'm quoting this post because I think the part I bolded is really key. People with a real interest vs. people hoping for a payday. The ones with a real interest will find what they need to know.

 

[Part-time]

Re: One Upset Boat Owner

The only reason you get accurate information on forums is because there is a professional certified EXPERIENCED tech willing to give the information to DIYers, other wise all you would get is "Here is what I found on mine" and you would still be swapping parts to find the problem.

And I thank them all very much.

Don't blanket all of us. Some new techs have no idea, period. I have seen several people come out of technical college after spending 10's of thousands of dollars on their education, only to have NO CLUE on the basics of reading a wiring schematic. On the other hand I've seen some people come out of these colleges, or from trade schools that have a good grasp on fundamentals, and are willing to learn everything they can.
I think what separates these people is the ones who have had an interest in technical things from an early age, VS the ones that thought to them selves "Think I'll go to college and be a mechanic" with out having any REAL interest in doing it.

Like any industry, we have our greenhorns. Our dopes who will never learn. Our meat heads who try to fix everything with a hammer. Our dinosaurs who are stuck in the past. Our evolving dinosaurs that can teach you about the past, but are willing to keep up with current tech. Our dealership lifer, who's got blinders on, and will only work on one product. Our average guy who's decent at most things.And of course our rock stars who are few and far between.

I didn't say all... And I still think more than some come out of tech school with a piece of paper in hand and not much more.
It's like someone else mentioned above, 1 teacher and 30 or 40 students.
And then they get stuck "learning" from dealership lifer with the blinders... (I liked that one. lol)


And just don't you guys go knockin' ol Cooter down... because when when the new techs are all stumped and the stealership says it's time for you to just "throw it away" and drop $20g's in his showroom.
Ol Cooter's gonna be the one that's gonna be able to get you all fixed up for a hundred bux.